Inking mechanism for printing-presses.



R. MIEHLE'.

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION F'ILED NOV-30. 1911 Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

A TTOR/l/EVS NIT - ROBERT MIEHLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

I INKING- MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application filed November 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MIEHLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Inking Mechanism for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw-V ings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to inking mechanism for printing presses and has particular re-' lation to inking mechanism for reciprocating bed printing presses, and has for its general object to provide an inking mechanism which will perform its functions in an efiicient manner and which requires a minimum amount of power, the construction and arrangement of which gives added surface and consequently a better digesting action without necessitating the expenditure of excessive power. This feature contemplates a construction in which a minimum number of the elements of the inking mechanism are caused to reverse their motion, and preferably these parts are not onlymoved in the same directlon but ar driven substantially at the same rate of speed. Specifically, the feature contemplates a distributing roller group charged from an ink fountain in the usual manner and driven from the press mechanism constantly in one direction, a reciprocating ink table in disassociated relation therewith, and movably mounted ink table rollers alternately engaging the distributing roller group and the ink table, said ink table rollers engaging the ink table during one stroke thereof, and the distributing roller group rotating in such a direction that the ink table rollers rotate in the same direction as they alternately disengage from the ink table and distributer roller group to engage the other. The ink table rollers preferablyengage the ink table during the stroke in which the form moves away from the ink table rollers whereby the ink table is charged more heavily at the form end thereof and whereby the form rollers contact the more heavily charged portion of the ink table immediately as they. are contacted therewith and are given more time to distribute the charge thoroughly upon their surfaces.

With these and other objects in view, which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly point-ed out in the claims, the

.usual construction. "tensions 10 and extending across and above the travel ofthe bed is the distrlbuting rollerinvention resides in the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings formng a part of this specification and disclosmg a preferred embodiment thereof, in

, igure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a reclprocating bed printing press embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation in partial section of same showing the parts in the same position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions they assume at another point in the cycle of operations of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the other side of the machine similar to Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4. 1

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the various views.

In the drawings 1 indicates the main frame of the machine, in which is journaled an impression cylinder 2. Tracks 3 are formed in the frame 1 and extend horizontally at right angles to the axis of cylinder 2. -A series of friction rollers 4 are journaled in a roller frame 5 and rest upon the tracks 3. Supported by the rollers 4 is a reciprocating bed -6 which is reciprocated by,

the usual mechanism, not shown, in timed relation with the rotation of the impression cylinder 2.

An ink-table 7 is mounted at the front end of the bed, and a form 8 is mounted at the rear end of the bed, the rear end of the ink table and the front end of the form lying adjacent to one another. Disposed in front of the impression cylinder 2 and immediately adjacent thereto is the form roller group 9 which is adapted to roll over the orm and the ink-table as the bed is reciprocated and serves to transfer the ink from the ink-table to the form. Said form roller group comprises a series of inter-contacting rollers which are journaled in the main frame 1.

Near the front end of the machine extensions 10 are formed on the main frame 1, there being one extension disposed on either side of the bed 6. Mounted upon these extensions and extending across the same above the travel'of thebed is an ink'fountain 11 of Journaled in these exgroup 12, the same being disposed at the rear of and spaced from the ink fountain. The distributing roller group comprises a metal roller 13 of a relatively small diameter and which is disposed adjacent the ink fountain, a second relatively large metal roller 14, and a composition roller 15 inter-contacting said rollers 13 and 14.

J ournaled in the main frame 1 is a cam shaft 16 which is driven from the press mechanism and rotates in unison with the reciprocations of the bed, the same making one revolution to each complete reciprocation of the bed. Mounted on the cam shaft 16 is a large spur gear 17 which has a driving connection with a pinion 18 mounted upon the shaft of roller 14 of the distributing roller group to the idler spur gears 19 and 20, the idler spur gear 19 being journaled upon a stud 21 of the press frame and meshing with the spur gear 17 and the idler spur gear 20, and the idler spur gear 20 being journaled'upon the stud 22 of press frame and meshing with said pinion 18 and said gear 19.

Journaled in the extensions 10 and eX- tending across and above and spaced from the ink surface of the ink-table 7 are two rock shafts 23 and 24 each rock shaft carrying a pair of arms 25 fixedly mounted thereon and disposed on either side of the travel of the bed. The arms 25 of rock shaft 23 are disposed outside of and extend beyond the arms 25 of rock shaft 24, and have an ink-table roller 26 journaled at the free end thereof. The arms 25. of rock shaft 24 have an ink-table roller 27 mounted at the' free end thereof. iVhen the arms 25 of the rock .shafts 23 and 24 are in their lower position the ink-table rollers are adapted for engagement with the ink-table 7, and when said arms are in their upper position said ink-table rollers are adapted for contact with the roller 14 of the distributing roller group 12, the distributing roller group being so disposed as to be disassociated with the table rollers 26 and 27 when said table rollers are in contact with the ink-table. Each arm of these rock shafts 23 and 24 which lie at the right hand of the machine has an extension arm 28 formed thereon said arm extending downwardly from said rock shaft and having the lower endthereof lying adjacent the cam shaft 16. The arm 28 of the rock shaft 23 has a friction roller 29 journaled thereon which engages the cam 30 fixedly mounted upon the cam shaft 16. The arm 28 of the rock shaft 24 has a friction rollerv 31 journaled at the lower end thereof which engages a cam 32 fixedly mounted upon said cam shaft 16. The cams 30 and 32'control the positions of the table rollers 26 and 27 through the respective arms 28 and are so formed that when these friction rollers 29 and 31 are in engagement with the low portions of the respective cams 30 and 32 the table rollers 26 and 27 are in engagement with the ink-table 7 and when the rollers 29 and 31 are in engagement with the high parts of the respective cams 30 and 32 the ink-table rollers 26 and 27 are in engagement with the rollers 14 of the distributing roller group 12. As above noticed the cam shaft 16 makes one revolution to each complete reciprocation of the bed 6, and the cams 30 and 32 are so formed that the ink-table rollers 26 and 27 are lowered to engage the ink-table 7 at the end thereof adjacent the form as the bed makes its initial movement of that stroke in which the form moves away from the table rollers, the table rollers remaining in contact with said ink-table until the ink-table has passed from under them, at which point the table rollers are raised into engagement with said rollers 14 of the distributing roller group 12.

Journaled in the extensions 10 of the main frame is'a third rock shaft 33 which is also disposed above and spaced from the travel of the ink-table. A pair of arms 34 are fixedly mounted upon said rock shaft 33 and are disposed on either side of the machine. Said arms 34 carry a ductor roller 35 journaled at the free end thereof, the same being so disposed that it may engage either the fountain roller 36 of the ink fountain 11 or the roller 13 of the distributing roller group 12 according to the position of the rock shaft An extension arm 37 is formed on the arm 34, which lies on the right hand side of the machine, and extends downwardly therefromand has the lower end thereof lying adjacent'the cam shaft 16. A friction roller 38 is journa'led atvthelower end of the extension arm 37 and engages the cam 39 fixedly mounted upon the cam shaft 16, said cam 39 being so formed as to engage alternately the ductor roller 35 with the fountain roller 36 and the rollers 13 of the distributing roller group 12. A spring 40 has the opposite ends thereof afiixed to the extension arm 37 and the main frame 1 and serves to retain the friction roller 38 in engagement with the cam 39.

Thus in the operation of the machine the ductor roller 35 is charged by contact with the fountain roller 36, said ductor roller charging the distributing roller group 12 through contact with the roller 13 thereof, the distributing roller group 12 charging the ink-table rollers 26 and 27 by the engagement of the same with the roller 15 of said distributing roller group 12, and the ink-table rollers charging the ink-table by contact therewith from which the ink is transferred to the form by means of the form roller group 9 and 9. The timing of the cam 39 relative to the cams 30 and 32 is such that the ductor roller 35 is in contact with the roller 13 of the distributing roller group 12 only at such times that the ink-table rollers 26 and 27 are out of engagement with the roller 15 of said distributing roller group 12 whereby the ink is given time to be properly distributed before the ink-table rollers are charged therefrom.

In the position of the machine as illus trated in Figs. 1 and 2 the bed 6 is shown in that stroke in which it begins to move toward the rear end of the machine, the form moving away from the table rollers during this stroke. When the bed is at its extreme front position the table roller 26 rises over the front end of the form, and in order that said table roller does not contact the form,

the cam 30 being so formed as not to allow said table roller 26 to attain its lowermost position until the form has passed out from under it. As the bed moves toward the rear end of the machine from the position in which the table rollers are engaged with the rear end of the ink-table, said table rollers are rolled over the ink-table to charge the same. After the ink-table has passed out from under the table rollers the cams 30 and 32 raise the ink-table rollers 26 and 27 into engagement with the roller 15 of the distributing roller group 12. At this time the cam 39 allows the spring 40 to move the ductor roller 35 out of engagement with the roller 13 of the distributing roller group 12 and into engagement with the fountain roller 36. During the latter part of this stroke the ink-table passes under the form roller groups 9 and 9. It will be noted at this point that due to the fact that the inktable rollers 26 and 27 engage the rear end, or that end of the ink-table which lies adjacent the form, first, the ink-table is charged heavier at this end than at any other portion thereof. The result is that the form r'oller groups 9 and 9 engage this heavily inked portion of the ink-table immediately as it engages the ink-table whereby it is given more time to distribute properly the full quota of ink throughout its surface.

Fig. 3 illustrates the position which the parts assume when the bed is near the rear end of its path of travel, the ductor roller being in engagement with the fountain roller 36, and the table rollers 26 and 27 being in engagement with the roller 15 of the distributing roller group 12. a

It will be noted that as the table rollers 26 and 27 roll over the ink-table they rotate in a front-wise direction, see Fig. 2. The distributing roller group 12 is so driven that the roller 14 thereof which the table rollers 26 and 27 contact rotates in a counter frontwise direction thus allowing the table rollers to rotate constantly in one direction.

As the bed moves toward the front end of the machine, that is when the form moves toward the ink-table rollers, the table rollers 26 and 27 are in. their upper position and are spaced from the ink-table as the bed nears the front end of its path of travel. During this stroke the form passes out from under the form roller groups 9 and 9 and attains the position as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the ink table surface is proportioned so that each of the form rollers of the groups 9 and 9' will make two full revolutions while rolling over the same. The surface speed of the distributing roller group 12 does not necessarily have to be the same as that of the ink-table. In fact itis preferably driven slower, about one half the speed of the ink-table, to save power. The texture of the table rollers, which it will be noted have a roller composition surface, is strong enough to withstand this relatively small difference in speed as they alternately engage the ink-table and the distributing roller group.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the means, above referred to, for maintaining the table rollers 26 and 27 out of engagement with the form when the machine is in position where said table rollers would normally be positioned in engagement with the ink-table. This mechanism comprises for its preferred embodiment, the following: Aflixed to the extension 10 opposite that which carries the driving gearing of the distributing roller group and disposed below the arms 25 on that side of the machine is a stud 41. A cam member having cams -.t2 and 43 formed thereon is journaled upon said stud 41. Each of thesefcams lie below a respective arm 25 and the cams are so formed that, when the high portions thereof are in engagement with said arms, the arms are positioned so that the rollers 26 and 27 lie closely adjacent,but do not touch the roller 14. In this position said rollers 26 and 27 are disassociated with the inktable and a space intervenes between them and the form when the same is positioned at the front end of the stroke as illustrated in Fig. 4. \Vhen the cams 12 and 13 are positioned so that the low parts thereof lie nearest adjacent their respectlve arms, said arms do not engage the same during their movements as the machine maintain said arms in the above described position, so that the weight of said arms and the rollers 26 and 27 have no tendency to move said cams when so positioned. However, the operatingshandle is positioned so that the gravital tendency of the same tends to move said cams totheir inoperative position. This gravital'tendency has not'sufiicams are released of the weight of said arms and their rollers. Thus, if the machine is moved in the position as illustrated in Fig. 4, the cams 30 and 32 will, at the proper time, lift the arms 25 to engage the rollers 26 and 27 with roller 14, whereupon the cams 42 and 43 will be released and will antomatically be moved to their inoperative position to allow said rollers 26 and 27 to assume their normal functions without any attention on the part of the operator. Thus automatic means is provided for releasing the cams 42 and 43 and moving the same into inoperative position or rendering the same inoperative, by the releasing function of cams 30 and 32 as they lift the arms 25 to release said cams 42 and 43 and the gravital tendency of the operating handle 44 which moves said cams intotheir inoperative position which said cams 42 and 43 are released as above described. A stop pin 45 is mounted upon the adjacent extension 10 and is adapted to engage the operating handle 44, when the latter is moved to the posit-ion where the arcual high portions of the cams 42 and 43 support said arms, to limit the movement thereof and to prevent the same being moved too far whereby the gravital tendency of the same would become ineffective. In the position of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 4, the form is not in contact with any portion of the inking mechanism and the space adjacent the upper surface thereof is unobstructed whereby the same may be easily adjusted or washed without deranging any of the inking mechanism.

The inoperative or functionless position of the cams 42 and 43 and the operating handle 44 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus fully described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating inktable, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged with said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated from said table rollers when they arein engagement with said ink-table, press driven means for constantly driving said distributing roller group in one direction, means for charging said distributing roller group, and press driven means for moving said table rollers to engage alternately the same with said ink-table and said distributing roller group and so timed as to engage'the same with said ink-table during the travel of said ink-table in one direction, the direction of rotation of said distributing roller group being such that said table rollers rotate in the same direction as they are moved to engage alternately said ink-table and said distributing roller group.

2; In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating ink table, of'a reciprocating form moving synchronously therewith and disposed adjacent one end thereof, form rollers adapted to be engaged alternately with said form and said ink-table, movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged with said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated from said table rollers when they are in engagement with said ink-table, press driven means for driving said distrib uting roller group, means for charging said distributing roller group, and a second press driven means for moving said table rollers to engage alternately the same with said inktable and said distributing roller group and adapted to maintain said table rollers in en gagement with said ink-table during that stroke of the bed in which the form moves away from said table rollers, the direction of rotation of said distributing roller group being such that said table rollers rotate in the same direction as they are disengaged from either said ink table or said distributing roller group to be engaged with the other.

3. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating inkt-able, of a. reciprocating form moving synchronously therewith and disposed adjacent one end thereof, form rollers adapted to be engaged alternately with said form and said ink-table, movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged with said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated from said table rollers when they are in engagement with said ink-table, press driven means for constantly driving said distributing roller group in one direction, means for charging said distributing roller group, and a second press driven means for moving said table rollers to engage alternately the same with said ink-table and said distributing roller group and adapted to maintain said table rollers in engagement with said ink-table during that stroke of the bed in which the form moves away from said table rollers, the direction of rotation of said distributing roller group being such that said table rollers rotate inthe same direction as they are disengaged from either said ink-table or said distributing roller group'to be engaged with the other.

4. In a printing press the combination with a moving ink-table, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged by said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated with said table rollers when they are in engagement with said ink-table, press driven means in operative relation with said table rollers and adapted to move alternately said table rollers into engagement with said ink-table and said distributing roller group, press driven means for driving said distributing roller group, an ink fountain, a ductor roller associated therewith and adapted to be moved into engagement with said distributing roller group and a second press driven means for alternately engaging said ductor roller with said fountain and said distributing roller group, said first mentioned press driven means and said second press driven means being so timed as to maintain said ductor roller in engagement with said distributing roller group only when said table rollers are out of engagement therewith.

. 5. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating inktable, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged by said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated with said table rollers when they are in engagement with said ink-table, press driven mean-s in operative relation with said table rollers and adapted to move alternately said table rollers into engagement with said ink-table and said distribut ing roller group, and adapted to maintain said table rollers in engagement with said ink-table only during the stroke thereof in one direction, press driven means for'driving said distributing roller group, an ink fountain, a ductor roller associated therewith and adapted to be moved into engagement with said distributing roller group and a second press driven means for alternately engaging said ductor roller with said fountain and said distributing roller group, said first mentioned press driven means and said second press driven means being so timed as to maintain said ductor roller in engagement with said distributing roller group only when said table rollers are out of engagement therewith.

6. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the. combination with a reciprocating inktable, of a reciprocating form moving synchronously therewith and disposed adjacent one end thereof, form rollers adapted to be engaged alternately with said form and said ink-table, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said inktable, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged by said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated with said table rollers when they are in engagement with'said inktable, press driven means in operative relation with said table rollers and adapted to move alternately said table rollers into enmeans during the other stroke of said ink.-

table, press driven means for driving said distributing roller group, an ink fountain,

a ductor roller associated therewith and adapted to be moved into engagement with said distributing roller group and a second press driven means for alternately engaging said ductor roller with said fountain and said distributing roller group, said first mentioned press'driven means and said second press driven means being so timed as to maintain said ductor roller in engagement with said distributing roller group only when said table rollers are out of engagement therewith.

7. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating inktable, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged by said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated with said table rollers when they are in engagement with. said inktable, press driven means in operative relation with said table'rollers and adapted to move alternately said table rollers into engagement with said ink-table and said distributing roller group, press driven means for driving said distributing roller group, an ink fountain, a ductor roller associated therewith and adapted to be moved into engagement with said distributing roller group, and a second press driven means for alternately engaging said ductor roller with said fountain and said distributing roller group, said first mentioned press driven means andsaid second press driven means being so timed as to maintain said ductor roller in engagement with said distributing rollergroup only when said table rollers are out of engagement therewith, the direction of rotation of said distributing roller group being such that said table rollers rotate in the same direction as dhey are disengaged from said ink-table or said dis tributing roller group and engaged with the other.

8. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating inktable, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged by said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated with said table rollers when they are in engagement with saidink-table, press driven means in operative relation with said table rollers and adapted to move alternately said table rollers into engagement with said in-table and said distributing roller group, press driven means for constantly driving said distributing roller group in one direction, an ink fountain, a ductor roller associated therewith and adapted to be moved into engagement with said distributing roller group, and a second press driven means for alternately engaging said ductor roller with said fountain and said distributing roller group, said first mentioned press driven means and said sec ond press driven means being so timed as to maintain said ductor roller in engagement with said distributing group only when said table rollers are out of engagement therewith and so timed as to engage the same with said ink-table during the travel of said ink-table in one direction, the direction of rotation of said distributing roller group being such that said table rollers rotate in the same direction as they are moved to engage alternately said ink-table and said distributing roller group.

. 9. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating inktable, of a reciprocating form moving synchronously therewith and disposed adjacent one end thereof, form rollers adapted to be engaged alternately with said form and said ink-table, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said ink-table, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged by said tablerollers anddisposed to be disassociated with said table rollers when they are in engagement with said ink-table, press driven means for driving said distributing roller group, a second press driven means for moving said table rollers to en gage alternately the same with said inktable and said distributing roller group and adapted to maintain said table rollers in engagement with said ink table during that stroke of the bed in which the form moves away from said table rollers, the direction Copies of this patent n ay be obtained for means of rotation of said distributing roller group being such that said table rollers rotate in the same direction as they are disengaged from either said ink-table or said distributing roller group to be engaged with the other, an ink fountain, a ductor roller associated therewith and adapted to be moved into engagement with said distributing roller group, and a second press driven means for alternately engaging said ductor roller with said fountain and said distributing roller group, said first mentioned press driven and said second press driven means being so timed as to maintain said ductor roller in engagement with said distributing roller group only when said table rollers are out of engagement therewith.

10. In a reciprocating bed printing press, the combination with a reciprocating inktable, of a reciprocating form moving synchronously therewith and disposed adjacent one end thereof, fo D1 rollers adapted to be engaged alternately with said form and said ink-table, of movably mounted ink-table rollers adapted to be engaged with said inktable, a distributing roller group adapted to be engaged by said table rollers and disposed to be disassociated with said table rollers when they are in engagement with said ink-table, press driven means for constantly driving said distributing roller group in one direction, a second press driven means for moving said table rollers to engage alternately the same with said inktable and said distributing roller group and adapted to maintain said table rollers in engagement with said ink-table during that stroke of the bed in which the form moves away from said table rollers, the direction of rotation of said distributing roller group be ing such that said table rollers rotate in the same direction as they are disengaged from either said ink-table or said distributing roller group to be engaged with the other.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature this 27th day of November, A. 1)., 1907.

ROBERT MIEHLE;

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

